British Airways has been announced as one of the sponsors of an emerging Lebanese artist who is taking part in the London Design Festival 2013 at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A).

Najla El Zein, who is the first Middle Eastern artist to have her work displayed at the prestigious design festival at the V&A, is presenting her installation named ‘The Wind Portal’, which is composed out of thousands of paper windmills that turn thanks to an integrated wind system.

This lively and sensorial installation creates a playful airway, drawing wind and light into the galleries beyond. Having already garnered much attention for her installation, her participation in the design festival is a huge coup for the up-and-coming designer which places her firmly on the international design scene.

El Zein said: “The London Design Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the design calendar, and is an event held to celebrate and promote London as a gateway to the international creative community.”

“I was honoured to be among the artists invited to this year’s festival, and take great pride in representing Middle Eastern artists at the exhibition. When you think of London, you cannot help but think of British Airways and I would like to thank them for their support of my exhibition.”

Paolo de Renzis, British Airways area commercial manager for the Middle East and Central Asia, said: “We are always keen to support young artists and Najla’s participation in the London Design Festival is a fantastic opportunity for a designer to be part of such a high profile and well-attended festival.

“On behalf of British Airways I would like to congratulate Najla on her exhibition which has already been heralded a success, and I hope that her inclusion will be the start of a growing recognition for regional talent in the Middle East.”

Najla El Zein is a French-Lebanese designer based in Beirut. She graduated from the prestigious Ecole Camondo in Paris.

In 2011 Najla opened her Beirut based design studio, Najla El Zein Studio in Beirut. She has gained much recognition for her spatial installations and design pieces such as her spoon series commissioned by smogallery and ‘Douche Emmene moi’ exhibited at the Boghossian Foundation in Brussels.

She has also been teaching in the Architectural department of the American University of Beirut in 2012. – TradeArabia News Service